Renovating, Remodeling or building a new home is a process that can involve emotional and rational decision making. Balancing needs versus wants, achieving a certain look or feel to a space can be difficult and every decision involves money.  If you look at the process from a purely financial perspective, there are some improvements that add value to a home, and there are many that provide little to no return, and even some that can detract from the existing value of your property.  As a Custom Builder on Cape Cod, we often assist in making these decisions, and try to provide the benefit analysis of different design ideas. Certain renovation projects like updating a kitchen, replacing windows and siding are often a good idea, but some projects such as adding a pool, or creating unique, but unappealing spaces may not create value in the home.

Here is a great article from The Street.com which talks about projects that might hurt the value of your property: Value Killing Home Renovations

   Building a new home on Cape Cod is hard enough, but the real challenge comes with permitting a project.  Each town has slightly different regulations, there is a mountain of paperwork to digest, and once the permit is submitted, it is difficult to know where the permit stands for several months. 

     Finally the county has spearheaded an effort to bring uniform online permitting to Cape Cod.  This system will be available to Cape Cod Builders, and promises reduced timelines, instant status updates, and should lend some more predictability and accountability to the process.  We look forward to seeing this program develop over the next year, and have been asked to participate in its development which will be an exciting opportunity.  This system should consolidate all of the approving authorities in each town, allowing building, health, fire, conservation, historic, and other filings to be done at once.  We will keep you up to date on the implementation of this new program.

   Many of our customers have waited a lifetime to build their custom home on Cape Cod.  Given the slow real estate market over the last several years, many customers have postponed building or renovating their Cape Cod home, because they are waiting to sell their existing home off Cape.  Well, all signs are pointing to an improving real estate market, and prices are beginning to stabilize and even increase.  We found an interesting article that offers some advice to people interested in selling their existing home. In an emerging market, some of these tips might be helpful, and can mean the difference between a full price offer with a quick closing, and a low-ball offer with months of haggling over issues that could have been corrected early in the process.

Here is the article from Yahoo Finance: 11 Reason People Can't Sell Their Home

   Outdoor living spaces, and landscaping can make even an older home look inviting and unique.  Hardscaping such as walkways, and stone walls can serve to define areas of the yard, and are a great way to create flower beds, and walking paths that also serve to minimize lawn area, and are easy to maintain.  Building or renovating a custom home is much more than just picking lighting fixtures, and countertops. It is an opportunity to build a place that generations can enjoy, both inside and out.  On Cape Cod, some of the best times to share with family are cool evenings in the yard, enjoying a cookout, or just chatting about a great day at the beach.  Here is some inspiration for your next custom home project or renovation.

Here is the full slideshow from Freshome.com:http://freshome.com/2012/05/30/35-lovely-pathways-for-a-well-organized-home-and-garden/#

  Over the last several months, we have continued to see positive signs in the building industry.  Home prices are rising, building permits are increasing, and the market is seeing a renewed interest in real estate as a sound investment.  A a Custom Home Builder here on Cape Cod, our experience has been much the same.  Demand for Custom Homes, Renovations, and Remodeling have increased dramatically over the last 4-5 months. As the market recovers, people have found the ability to mitigate the risk associated with building a home on Cape Cod, given the fact that mortgage rates are low, property values have settled and become stable.  This is an exciting time for builders across the country, especially for those who had the financial strength to weather the storm. Meanwhile, there have also been significant advancements over the last couple of years in building technologies, materials, and techniques that have allowed new homes to be built quickly and efficiently.

Here is an article from Builderonline.com that looks at the increase in residential construction across the country: http://www.builderonline.com/economic-conditions/signs-of-life.aspx

   So, with the new energy code looming, that basically makes new homes and major renovations more air tight than ever, people are asking us if houses need to breathe.  The answer is yes, and it is more important now than ever. Houses need a mechanism in place to allow warm moist air to move out of the house in a controlled and predicatable fashion. There are only two ways to do that, first is to have bath fans run continously when people are in the house.  The second is with a heat recovery ventilator, that brings fresh air into a house, and evacuates air at a set rate.  Our experience has been that the heat recovery ventilator, although more expensive than the bath fan solution, is a much better way of controlling fresh air exchange in a home.

Here is an article on the subject from housingzone.com : http://www.housingzone.com/green-energy-efficiency/building-science-do-houses-need-breathe

   There is so much literature out there telling people what they should do in their new home or renovation project, but not a whole lot if information talking about what they shouldn't do.  Customers hire a Custom Home Builder to create their dream home, especially when building a new home on Cape Cod.  But often times, customers try too hard to incorporate all of the design tips they have seen throughout the years.  Here is an interesting article that covers mistakes people make when designing their kitchens.  The kitchen is probably one of the most important spaces in a new custom home or renovation project, and a well designed kitchen will be an inviting space that can have timeless style and great functionality.  Just some things to think about for your next project. 

Here is the full article from Yahoo! : http://shine.yahoo.com/at-home/biggest-kitchen-design-mistakes-160000075.html

     Custom Builders are constantly asked questions about green construction, and sustainable or environmentally friendly products.  There are two distinct sides of the green construction concept.  Firste ther are green products, which are generally from renewable or sustainable resources, and also products that are healthy for the indoor environment.  Second is green building technology which consists of advanced insulation and waterproofing techniques, and high efficiency, or sustainable heating, cooling, and power generation systems.

      Our experience over the last several years has taught us that despite the innovative technology used in developing many of these products, many of these products and techniques are still unproven. The Green Building movement is still in its infancy, and there have been several problems with moisture, mold, and building envelope failures over even a short period of time.  At REEF, we have taken the time to assess and evaluate many of the current and future green building concepts, and we have found proven, yet highly efficient and safe products that work. Our team of experts prides themselves in staying current on Green trends and techniques.

     There are several Green Building concepts that we really like.  As a matter of fact, 3 years ago, REEF invested in photovoltaic solar panels on our own office building here on Cape Cod, and the results have been fantastic! 

Here is an interesting article from Risk Magazine that highlights some of the current problems with green building products.

http://www.natlawreview.com/article/inexperience-and-unproven-products-risks-sustainable-construction

     The National Association of Realtors announced that existing home sale prices were up 10% in April compared to last year.  This is the largest year over year gain since 2006.  A sure sign that things are really beginning to move in a positive direction. Building a custom home is always a challenging decision, and with many of our customers waiting to sell their primary residence to build their New Home on Cape Cod, this is great news.  REEF has seen demand for custom building increase steadily this year, and we are gearing up for a busy 2012-2013 season. 

Here is the complete article from housingzone.com: http://www.housingzone.com/industry-data-research/existing-home-sales-biggest-gain-prices-2006

If you are thinking of building your new home on Cape Cod, now is a great time to start the process.  Click below to contact one of our experts with your questions!

    Smartly-designed bathrooms are a nice feature in a home.  With home design moving towards multi-generation living, showers are a big issue.  We have done several homes recenlty with open showers, and flush floors that can accommodate wheelchair access. Also, if the showers are well-designed, no shower door is needed to capture the water.  These types of showers are expensive and time consuming to do in an existing home, but are fairly easy and straight forward in a new home or addition.  By lowering the floor appropriately in the bathroom, the tile floors can be pitched towards open drains, eliminating the traditional shower curb, door or curtain.   It also makes the bathroom really easy to clean!

Here is an article from houzz.com with some great ideas: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2504909/list/Doorless-Showers-Open-a-World-of-Possibilities